A representative sample of Be stars

I. Sample selection, spectral classification and rotational velocities

¹ Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead, L41 1LD, UK
² SAX SDC, Italian Space Agency, c/o Telespazio, via Corcolle 19, I-00131 Rome, Italy
³ Astronomy Centre, CPES, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK

Send offprint request to: I.A. Steele

Received: 7 September 1998
Accepted: 12 March 1999

Abstract

We present a sample of 58 Be stars containing objects of spectral types O9 to B8.5 and luminosity classes III to V. We have obtained  Å spectra of the sample which are used to derive spectral types and rotational velocities. We discuss the distribution of spectral types and rotational velocities obtained and conclude that there are no significant selection effects in our sample.